The Extravagant Dimensions of Love

We like our boxes don't we; well, some of us do. Whether it's our kitchen draw, desk draw or our garage shelving we like to have a box to put things in. If you looked at my desk draws you would see a whole lot of little trays, each a place for a specified item. If we can put something in a box we feel we can control it, or measure it. If we're packing up a parcel we need a box that has to be the right size not only for the gift but also for the postal charges. 

I was reading Paul's well known prayer in Ephesians 3 the other day and could see how easily we try to put God's love in a box. We feel if we can, then maybe we might begin to understand it. If we can measure it, maybe we'll be able to quantify it in some way. And we are almost led to that conclusion. 

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV)

We are invited to discover the width, length, height and depth of this love. That, of course, almost implies that it is measurable. 

However, we soon find that His love has no limits. It is immeasurable and infinite. It is eternal as it is from everlasting to everlasting. It is a complete expression of the nature and character of our Father, for He is Love (1 John 4:16). When we try to put limits on God's love we find that there is nothing to push against. There are no boundaries, there are no edges of the box to rub up against. There are no restricting factors. 

I hope we can agree that his love is without limit or restriction. 

Let me therefore ask a couple of questions: "is there anything we can do to take us outside of the Father's love?" and "is there anyone on this planet who is outside the Father's love?"

The answer to both questions has to be "no". 

God, the Father, loves us when we sin or fail. He loves those who choose to reject him. The question should never be "does God love me?" but rather "am I willing to open myself to receive love and to be loved, am I open to let God be a Father to me?" We can't take ourselves outside of the Father's love but we can close our heart to receive that love. For those who don't yet know him, they can reject the invitation to come through Jesus and find eternal life. They are still loved but have chosen to remain outside the Father's house (John 3:16 and Luke 15:11-32). 

Desmond Tutu once said that God makes himself powerfully powerless in the face of our choices. That's a shocking statement! It also has an element of truth as love always contains an invitation which can either be accepted or rejected. It can't be love if that choice is taken away as it then becomes an issue of force and dominance - something our Father is most definitely not. 

There is a great deal of turmoil in the world at the moment. It's easy to focus on the things that instil fear and that fear paralyses, it destroys and steals our life. 

But there is another way. 

It's the path of living in love and walking as Jesus walked. 

Paul prays, in Ephesians 3, that we would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in order that our own spirit can expand to contain this immeasurable love. Our heart cannot contain this love in all its fulness without being constantly strengthened by His Spirit. It is as the roots of our life go down into love that we discover His love is the very source of life itself. 

As I conclude, I encourage you to respond to this invitation. Let the roots of your life go deeper into the immeasurable love of the Father so in the day of shaking you can stand firm. Do not let fear rule, do not let your circumstances rule but let His immeasurable love be the motivating force of your life. Remember this: He is able to do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us". What comfort and grace! What an enabling presence we carry in our heart! May His love overwhelm you today and draw you closer to the One who longs to be a Father to you.